DC Animated - Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

[stargazer]

I am totally psyched about this movie. I hope they keep it close to the original design.
I love his art. I think it would totally work as a animation style.



A more realistic art design would require more attention, more time, more money too. More realism makes animation harder to do. Thats why cartoon characters have four fingers instead of five on each hand, and why Doomsday didn't have as many bones on him (especially his eyes).
Even in computer animation, simple designs = better animation.
More detail and realism = stiffer and harder animation.
Usually.

The cartoony style of the comic would be perfect, like Darwyn Cook's designs for New Frontier. It would be cool to try and keep the design close to the original material.
Plus its a cartoon movie, based on a cartoony design.

I'm not convinced. t: If they go with that style, I just won't buy it.

 

[Double Down]

Jeph Loeb on “Superman/Batman” Animated Film

Jeph Loeb is presently writing two top-selling books for Marvel Comics with “Hulk” and “Ultimatum.” But before he moved to the House of Ideas, Loeb was selling 100,000-plus copies a month of “Superman/Batman” for DC Comics. It was recently revealed that Loeb’s first arc on the blockbuster book, “Public Enemies,” penciled by fan favorite Ed McGuinness (now his creative partner on “Hulk”), is set to be Warner Bros.’ next original DC Universe animated feature after the release of “Green Lantern: First Flight” in July.
CBR News checked in with Loeb to see how much he’s involved in the project, and who he thinks would be the best choices to voice the two iconic characters.

CBR: You must be thrilled to see “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies” coming to life in animated form?
Jeph Loeb: It’s the greatest! Ed and I had so much fun on that arc, to see it “live” will be very, very cool.

When you wrote the story back in 2003, did you ever think, “Man, this would make a great movie,” live-action or animated?
Well, because I work in TV and film and animation, hell yes! Did I think it would happen? Hell no!

Does it get any bigger than a story starring Superman and Batman?
Are you reading “Ultimatum?” But seriously, “Public Enemies” is a pretty massive story. I’m curious as to what they’re going to do with it.

So you’re not involved in the project?
They asked me to write the script and I really, really wanted to, but I was on “Heroes” and my schedule was just too full. So, no, I haven’t had anything to do with it. But, I’m a huge Bruce Timm [Executive Producer] fan, as he knows since I dog him at conventions, and I’m sure he’s going to make it even better than the comic.

What about McGuinness? Is he involved?
I spoke to Ed this morning and he told me they had approached him to do designs, but his schedule was too full, as well. We both would’ve loved to be involved.

Do you know if Warner Bros. is sticking pretty close to your original storyline?
Don’t know, but it appears so. When I was talking to Gregory Novak, the exec at Warner Bros. who covers DC, they wanted to stay as true to the original material as possible. That included it looking like Ed’s style.

Who would you love to hear voicing the iconic lead characters?
Just get me the cast from “Batman: The Animated Series” and “Superman: The Animated Series.” Those guys rock. [The roles were played by Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly, respectively.]

Do you know if there are any plans to adapt any other “Superman/Batman” arcs as animated features?
Don’t know. The “Supergirl” story, particularly if they do it in [artist] Mike Turner’s style, would be awesome.

From “Smallville” to “Lost” to “Heroes,” you’ve been moving from genre hit to genre hit for the past six or seven seasons. When will we hear about your next television project?
Sooner than you think.

 

[GL's Light]

LeSean Thomas, who has been hired as lead designer on the movie, reveals on Deviantart that Sam Liu is the director. Liu previously directed Hulk Vs. and has been a storyboard artist on a number of other Marvel and DC Universe DTVs.

 

[Anubis]

Ugh, Loeb, what the hell happened to you....

 

[RonStoppablefan]

Heroes? I should know this guy, been a fan of that show since Volume 1. I am excited for this. I love it when they team up, they make an awesome team.

 

[Sub-Zero]

is this really coming out THIS FALL? that's fast. when the story broke i thought that was the first we'd ever heard about the project, but apparently people on the shh! boards knew this was going to come about before the green lantern announcement.

 

[Grommers]

Okay a couple things..

Conroy on Gotham Knight good thing..

That animation on gotham knight claiming to be a predecessor to dark knight...Bad thing, the animation to me is what really took it out of "the dark knight", had very little to do with Conroy.

Moving on ..

I would probably prefer George Newbern to Tim Daly, but either or I think before I even make a decision on who would make the better role I'd have to wait and see what kind of animation it is.

And of course they need to bring back Clancy Brown, any other voice turns me off.but the animation again could change that.

 

[Double Down]

^ You know, I was really surprised when I found out that Newbern was the guy who married Kimberly Williams in "Father of the Bride." He does do a good job of Superman's voice. (And so does Daly.)

 

[GL's Light]

I prefer Daly to Newbern, although Newbern did a good job, too.

Eric Roberts would make a good Lex Luthor if they don't use Clancy Brown.

 

[Hush]

Im Glad they are going with Ed's style they went with Cooke's style for NF it only keeps it consistent that when adapting stories you try your best to just Animate the story not change it.

 

[Grommers]

I agree, I think animation is a big factor as well to who does there voices.

Jeremy Sisto's voice sounded good in NF for that design of batman..couldn't picture conroys.

 

[stargazer]

Ugh! This pic seriously turns me off. He looks... constipated. And those muscles are ridiculously huge. If they go with this exact style, my friends are gonna laugh at Supes. And I want them to take him more serioulsy. *sigh*

 

[GL's Light]

Those muscles would make for too many lines for an animation character design. They may keep that basic silhouette, but there's no way they'll have all those musculature lines.

 

[Double Down]

Not that his style is my cup of tea, but I could see it looking like this, with fewer lines drawn on the body:

 

[dude stannis]

Am I sick for wanting this to be co-directed by Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay?

 

[Double Down]

Well, their movies are almost cartoons, anyway. So it makes sense.

 

[lespaul59]

Personaly I really like the art in Public Enemies but I don't like the art in Vengeance as much, so of it I really like but some of it I don't like as much. And I think a cartoon would look pretty cool drawn in this style. And Personaly I would like Conroy, Daly or Newbern and Clancy Brown. I also wouldn't mind George Eads(CSI) as Captain Atom because I like him in the one episode of JLU that he voiced Captain Atom in. And I also think the story will be simplified some what to fit the 75min run time.

 

[Sub-Zero]

wait wait wait. it hasn't been confirmed that they are using mcguinness's designs. loeb said they approached him and he was busy. that doesn't mean that they are using his designs for the movie. it just states that they approached him. who knows which direction they'll take. as long as its not the lame designs for superman:doomsday with the face lines. wait until they release some images. then we can go bat**** crazy about it.

 

[Sawyer]

Ugh, Loeb, what the hell happened to you....

In all honesty, I think it's because he keeps dividing his time between comics and TV that his comics, as of late, are sucking. He really just needs to pick one and focus his attention on it. If you want TV, stick with TV, if you want comics, stick with comics, but dont divide your time amongst them, because neither are better for it.

 

[Crook]

wait wait wait. it hasn't been confirmed that they are using mcguinness's designs. loeb said they approached him and he was busy. that doesn't mean that they are using his designs for the movie. it just states that they approached him. who knows which direction they'll take. as long as its not the lame designs for superman:doomsday with the face lines. wait until they release some images. then we can go bat**** crazy about it.

It's right in the interview. He mentions McGuinness being approached, which I don't see would be the point if they weren't interested in using his art style. Then Loeb talked with a WB exec who basically confirmed the art direction is faithful to the source material.

 

[Sub-Zero]

It's right in the interview. He mentions McGuinness being approached, which I don't see would be the point if they weren't interested in using his art style. Then Loeb talked with a WB exec who basically confirmed the art direction is faithful to the source material.

you are correct. my mistake. too bad they didn't use the dan jurgens designs for superman: doomsday.

 

[stargazer]

wait wait wait. it hasn't been confirmed that they are using mcguinness's designs. loeb said they approached him and he was busy. that doesn't mean that they are using his designs for the movie. it just states that they approached him. who knows which direction they'll take. as long as its not the lame designs for superman:doomsday with the face lines. wait until they release some images. then we can go bat**** crazy about it.

I liked the characters' design in S/D for the most part. But yes, the face lines on Supes' face were awful.

However, I prefer that Superman design (lines included) than Mcguinness' .......BY FAR.

 

[union_jak]

As long as they keep the families' storming of the White House I'll be pleased. Don't think we've ever seen Nightwing, Huntress, Batgirl and Robin team up anywhere onscreen before.

 

[BlackLantern]

the story is cool and I was a fan of the whole President Lex thing when DC did that...

 

[RockyBatboa]

I'm not really a fan of Loeb, though i do think the original comic story had it's charm.


Still, i cant help but wonder why they're doing a film like this before, let's say a "Year One" or "Long Halloween" or even "Killing Joke".....


Kinda lackluster about this one.